Facts, Values And Ethical Reasoning Flashcards
What is ethics?
How one OUGHT to act; this requires justification/reason/argument
What are facts?
Claims about the world that have been or can in principle, be verified by empirical methods
What are values?
Claims about, or expressions of, things like preferences, attitudes, emotions + aesthetic appreciation
What are thick concepts?
Claims that have both factual + evaluative content
E.G. the Dr was intimidating, the president is straight-talking + those plants are weeds
How can we assess claims?
Empirical methods can determine the truth of factual statements
How can we assess value claims?
Moral theory
What are 3 most popular moral theories within healthcare?
- Consequentialism/utilitarianism
- Deontology
- Virtue ethics
Define consequentialism.
Theories assess the moral value of anything in terms of that thing’s outcomes or impact upon the world so it is only based on consequences/likely outcome
Define utilitarianism.
A type of consequentialism that aims for the best balance between benefit + harm which makes for the most effective use of resources
What do consequentialist theories need to provide and defend?
- An account of the relevant good (s)
- An account + method of quantification (e.g. who counts? Can we aggregate? If so, how? etc.)
- An explanation of how rightness if to be determined
What is deontology?
“Deon” - duty
Rules govern actions + we have a duty to abide by them regardless of cost which contrasts with emphasis on outcomes (consequentialism)
“The right is prior to the good”
What does deontology seek to respect?
Autonomy because its the only way of respecting an individual’s right to determine their own life
What is virtue ethics?
Focuses on character of the person, not their actions + states that a right act in the action a virtuous person would do in the same circumstances
What are the key concepts of virtue ethics?
A move away from universal principles
Virtue “lies in a mean”
Eudaimonia (‘human flourishing’)
Phronesis (a type of wisdom or intelligence)
Define phronesis.
A type of wisdom relevant to practical things, requiring an ability to discern how or why to act virtuously and encourage practical virtue, excellence of character, in others
What moral theory should be used?
All 3 should be used in combination when making decisions because each one individually is too demanding/permissive
What pneumonic should you use when considering ethical reasoning in clinical practice?
P: principles
P: particulars (context/facts of case)
P: perspectives (of all those involved/affect by the case)
What principle should be considered in ethical reasoning?
Respect for autonomy (informed consent)
Beneficence (acting in patients best interests)
Consequentialism (weighing benefit + risk of people involved)
What particulars should be considered in ethical reasoning?
Harms associated with procedure
Experience/skills/knowledge of person carrying it out
Are there other options for any of the people involved in the situation?
Whos perspectives must be considered in ethical reasoning?
- Patient: expectation of care + trust in doctors
- Family: want best care for relative, may suspect discrimination, may trust doctor + support student training
- Students: want to improve skill, wants to gain approval from seniors/peers but may feel uncomfortable
- Registrar: want to teach students + benefit future patients
- Other patients: may support teaching or concerned that they’d be better off not being experimented on
